Sensory Disability Services

The Sensory Disability Service are a team of specialist staff who offer services to children and adults and include those who are:

• Deaf
• Hard of hearing or have an acquired hearing loss
• Have difficulties with Tinnitus
• Certified Severely Sight Impaired
• Certified Sight Impaired
• Visually Impaired
• Deaf/ Blind (dual sensory loss)
• Carers assessments

The Sensory Disability Team is made up of

• Social Workers
• Rehabilitation Workers
• Deafblind specialist
• Environmental Equipment Officers (EEO)
• Floating Support Workers
• Community Access Workers (CAW)
• Admin / clerical support

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• Sensory support services in Northern Ireland

• Routes to Access the Services

  A referral for services may be made in writing, by telephone or email.

  Referrals are accepted from individuals, carers, family members or health care professionals. The referrals are screened to ensure they are appropriate and can benefit from access to services.

• Referral criteria
  • A person with significant sight loss (significant is agreed to mean a sight loss that cannot be corrected by spectacles)

  AND

  • Requires services and supports in coping with their sight loss
  • Lives within the Southern Trust area

  OR

  • The carer of a person with a sight loss who requires an assessment relating to their caring role

   

  • A person who is Deaf
  • A person with a significant hearing loss (significant is agreed to mean requiring hearing aids following referral to and assessment by local Audiology Department).
  • A person who has Tinnitus

  AND

  • Requires services and supports in coping with deafness or hearing loss
  • Lives within the Southern Trust area

  OR

  • A carer of a person with a sight loss who requires an assessment relating to their caring role.
• Out of hours contacts

  Regional Emergency Social Work Service (RESWS)

  The aim of the RESWS is to provide an emergency social work service outside normal office hours, which responds to a wide range of people in crisis, and which cannot be left until the next working day.

  Relay UK 999 details

  The Relay UK service allows Deaf, hard of hearing or people with speech difficulties in the UK to alert police, ambulance, fire or coastguard services by either calling via a relay assistant or texting a message to 999 using the emergency SMS service.

  Contact 999 using Relay UK – How to use Relay UK | Relay UK

  Emergency SMS Contact Details

  The Emergency SMS service lets Deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the police, ambulance, fire rescue, or coastguard. The phone must be registered for the service in advance.

  999BSL details

  The 999 BSL app or Website can be used to make a call to 999, it will go to a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter first, who will appear on the screen. The BSL interpreter will then call the 999 operator through a landline and will relay the conversation.

  Call 999BSL

  Download 999BSL app

  999BSL Frequently asked questions

  Police service NI

  The Deaf community can contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland using a video relay service.

  A deaf member of the public can click on a call button on the Police Service website or access the service via the Police Service logo on the SignVideo app.

  This will put them through to an interpreter who will then relay the call through to the Contact Management Centre where it will be progressed like all other calls received.

• Sign language Interpreting

  Sign Language Interactions provide communication support for people who are Deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing, by offering a full range of communication support.

  Email: bookingsni@signlanguageinteractions.com

  Phone: 0333 344 7712.

   

  For HSCNI employees

  Phone calls

  To call a Deaf person (Sign Language user) all you need to do is call one of the following numbers and ask for the person by name.

  If they are registered, online, and available, you will be connected via the remote online sign language interpreter.

  To call British Sign Language users: 0333 344 6012

  To call Irish Sign Language users: 0333 305 1143

   

  Video remote interpreting

  Video remote interpreting calls are where the service is used as a replacement for a face-to-face interpreter.

  For information about on demand or pre booked VRI

   https://signvideo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/HSC-Remote-Intrpreting-Service-Guide.pdf

   

  Booking Interpreters for face-to-face bookings – email, phone, online HSCNI form

  https://signlanguageinteractions.com/hscni-booking-form/

   

  Deaf Relay Interpreters

  Some Deaf Sign Language users may not be fluent in British or Irish Sign Language they may use a variety of different Sign Languages or have more complex communication needs. In this case using a Deaf Relay interpreter can be beneficial.  So, in the chain of communication, you would have a speaker who communicates through the Sign Language interpreter who signs to the Deaf Relay interpreter, who communicates with the Deaf person.

   

  For Sign Language users

  By App

  Available on the App Store, Google Play and Microsoft Store.

  Please download the SignVideo app from www.signvideo.co.uk/download

  By PC/Laptop

  You will need access to:

  Internet connection

  Web camera – built-in or plugged in.

  Microphone or speakers – for VRI only

  Text number for Deaf to inquire about bookings: 07520645246

   

• Support Groups

  RNIB

  The Royal National Institute of Blind People in Northern Ireland (RNIB NI) is for everyone affected by sight loss.  If you or someone in your life have experienced sight loss, are blind or partially sighted, they offer a wide range of services, support and information to help.

  RNIB helpline 0303 123 9999

  8am – 8pm weekdays, 9 -1 pm Saturdays.

  Email: helpline@rnib.org.uk

   

  Guide Dogs

  Guide Dogs Northern Ireland help adults, children and young people with sight loss and their families by providing life-changing mobility services.

  They also work to break down barriers by campaigning alongside people living with sight loss to ensure that they can get out and about on their own terms.

  Phone: 0800 781 1444

  Open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.

  Email:  information@guidedogs.org.uk

   

  Sense Northern Ireland 

  Sense support children and adults with complex disabilities across Northern Ireland.

  Phone: 028 9335 5665

  Sense Nursery

  Phone: 028 90852031

  Email: nienquires@sense.org.uk

   

  RNID Northern Ireland

  For everyone in Northern Ireland who is deaf or has hearing loss or tinnitus.

  They work in communities across the country to provide information and support services.  They also run fundraising events and campaigns and are always keen to welcome new volunteers.

  Phone:  0808 808 0123

  Text:  07587130502

  Email:  contact@rnid.org.uk

   

  British Deaf Association

  The British Deaf Association of Northern Ireland provide many services to Deaf and hard of hearing people, and their families.

  These include Advocacy, BDA’s Charter for BSL/ISL, Deaf Roots and Pride, Access to Justice, and Family Signing in the Home.

  Phone:  028 90437480

  Email:  bda@bda.org.uk

   

  Tinnitus UK

  Tinnitus UK provide free support to anyone living with tinnitus or caring for someone with tinnitus.

  Phone:  0800 018 0527

  Text:  07537416841

  Email:  helpline@tinnitus.org.uk

• Hearing Aid clinics

  RNID in Partnership with the Department of Health have free walk in Support Services held in a variety of locations:

  The walk in support service offers

  • Re-tube mould style hearing aids
  • Change tubing and domes on Open-Fit style hearing aids
  • Change RIC wax filters and domes
  • Supply hearing aid batteries
  • Advise on getting the best from your hearing aids
  • Advise on equipment
  • Provide information on deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus
  • Signpost to other services
  • Hearing Checks

   

  For more information on dates and times please contact

  Carolyn Ritchie

  Phone: 07483941623.

  Email: carolyn.ritchie@rnid.org.uk

   

• Benefits

  Make the Call Service

  Contact the Make the Call service to check if you’re getting all the benefits, services and supports you’re entitled to.

  Freephone: 0800 232 1271

  Email: makethecall@dfcni.gov.uk

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Contacts